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Chandeleur islands

Posted on 6/7/18 at 8:06 am
Posted by anewguy
BR
Member since Mar 2017
1239 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 8:06 am
Morning! I am heading fishing next week to the chandeleur islands. This will be my first trip out there.

Any recent fishing reports? Any tips for fishing out there? I have been told to bring mostly artificial baits but was thinking about bringing frozen shrimp as well.

Thanks!
Posted by dat yat
Chef Pass
Member since Jun 2011
4299 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 9:21 am to
We went two weeks ago. It was about hour and a half from a boat slip in Venetian Isles. Launching in MS is a much shorter run if your boat is already on a trailer.

We used live shrimp and plastics with equal success. Matrix Shrimp Creole under a cork seemed like the best artificial combo. But when we ran out, they bit other colors too. We ended up with about 40 nice, big trout, a handful of sailfin cats and a mackerel. We caught enough hardheads on plastics to make me want to avoid market bait. The ladyfish action was non-stop.

We stayed on the backside; mangrove island and points north of there. Another neighbor went and fished the surf and caught more. We will surf fish there, and possibly even bring a kayak next trip.
Posted by speckledawg
Somewhere Salty
Member since Nov 2016
3914 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 9:24 am to
quote:

surf fish there


You definitely want to wade out there, but be aware that there are plenty of sharks around.

Zero need for the frozen shrimp.
Posted by RingLeader
Slidell, LA
Member since Jan 2007
1047 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 9:26 am to
Shrimp of any kind are worthless unless you’re targeting cats and lady fish. Croakers are the only live bait worth having out there.
Posted by anewguy
BR
Member since Mar 2017
1239 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 10:08 am to
Awesome thanks for all the info! We are taking a big houseboat out of pass christian with skiffs to run around in.
Posted by Saskwatch
Member since Feb 2016
16535 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 10:36 am to
quote:

I am heading fishing next week to the chandeleur islands. This will be my first trip out there.


Top water --> Silver, Red Head, Chartreuse, and Bone

Sinking Mirrolures --> 52MR,Catch 2000, and mirrodine

Cork w/ Vudu Shrimp

Lighter blue or transleucent plastic cocahoes with some speck or flash in them.

Enjoy. They have been crushing them. Fish top waters in shallow early. Drop offs around points and sandbars later in the day. Drift grass beds with the popping cork.

Wading is my preferred method however right now you need to be mindful that you may get your fish snatched by sharks and remember to shuffle your feet for rays!

*I will be out there for a couple days in October. Wish I got out there more often.
This post was edited on 6/7/18 at 10:38 am
Posted by lsuchamps23
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2008
9494 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 10:49 am to
My Dad and I have been itching to make the run out there (from Diamondhead)

We have a 27'Boston Whaler, any dangers taking that boat out there? My main fear is to run a ground and get stuck.

We don't have any skiffs to tow and my dad is too old to surf fish, so we would have to fish out of the big boat.

Posted by Saskwatch
Member since Feb 2016
16535 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 10:52 am to
Absolutely would be fine with that boat and fishing out of it. Plenty of trout and reds to be had around drop offs and underwater reef structure with Carolina rigged croakers. Also bring a heavier rod with a cobia jig. They can be caught in the summer and fall months out there. I've even seen groups of big tarpon rolling out there.
Posted by TJG210
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2006
28335 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 12:12 pm to
What service are you using? We just took a houseboat out there last week. We had bad conditions, but still ended up with 89 specks and 3 reds over 3 days. The number of catfish we caught on plastic was obscene. Dead shrimp or live for that matter would be a horribly bad idea. I’ll post some pictures later today, but all the specks were beautiful.
This post was edited on 6/7/18 at 1:06 pm
Posted by PapaPogey
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
39421 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 12:20 pm to
Went with Theophile a couple yrs ago and caught some nice fish all on artificial, mostly on top with a badonkadonk. Get out the boat and wade fish the beach if you can, but watch out for sharks.

Posted by lsuchamps23
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2008
9494 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 2:56 pm to
quote:

Absolutely would be fine with that boat and fishing out of it. Plenty of trout and reds to be had around drop offs and underwater reef structure with Carolina rigged croakers. Also bring a heavier rod with a cobia jig. They can be caught in the summer and fall months out there. I've even seen groups of big tarpon rolling out there.



Thanks for the info

Going to make the trip out there in the next few weeks, ill post an update.
Posted by DownSouthDave
Beau, Bro, Baw
Member since Jan 2013
7366 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 3:02 pm to
Is that as much fun as it looks?
Posted by anewguy
BR
Member since Mar 2017
1239 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 3:42 pm to
quote:

What service are you using?


I can not find it in my email right now. But remember looking at boat and seemed nice.Nothing 5 star just somewhere to sleep and keep the extra beer.
Posted by BeerThirty
Red Stick
Member since May 2017
898 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 5:33 pm to
Had a good trip out there this past weekend with a big group, stayed on the new jack-up barge they brought out. While we didn't smash them, we got into them a few times, all on an assortment of plastics. Top, bottom, hard baits, under a cork, suspending, soft baits. When they were on they were on. Including the kitty cats. I have never in my life caught, and have seen so many caught on artificial baits. They were biting all the same as the trout to, didn't matter. Find a good grass flat, and tide movement. We caught 95% of our trout around noon. Love the island, but it can be tough as hell fishing it!
Posted by TJG210
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2006
28335 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 6:02 pm to
How much was the Jackup per night? What did it include? Guy was telling us it was high as giraffe nuts and was basically a place to sleep and nothing more.
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
12119 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 6:24 pm to
I second fishing grass beds. I fished some open sand bars and got zero bites. Found grass and caught some nice fish on top water. 3 of us caught 25 fish a month ago but we had several over 5 lbs. really nice fish
Posted by TJG210
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2006
28335 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 6:56 pm to
There’s a shell island to the north of the main island with a steep drop off that’s really good as well.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 7:21 pm to
quote:

Wading is my preferred method however right now you need to be mindful that you may get your fish snatched by sharks and remember to shuffle your feet for rays!


This for sure. Fished out there more then enough to know this. Kind of freaky having a shark swim in between your legs.

Still have a few conk shells from there. There are everywhere. Kids love them.
Posted by BeerThirty
Red Stick
Member since May 2017
898 posts
Posted on 6/7/18 at 7:26 pm to
Buddies took a few trips before, and it didn't sound like a great plan. But if the owner isn't there, apparently it's a great damn time because that's what we had. 2 hundo a night, came in they were ready to fry fresh fish, woke up in the am to bacon, eggs, grits, biscuits and gravy, sausage, etc. came back for lunch they cranked the grill up and waited until we tied up and fired up the grill for burgers. The two guys that were out there running it were well worth the per night cost and their tip. But the owner on the other hand, I've heard he is terrible. Was pleasantly surprised with the trip, would recommend if he isn't out there. Calvin was the bossman this weekend, and him and his mate did a jam up job.
Posted by tigerstripes
Loranger, LA
Member since Aug 2006
792 posts
Posted on 6/8/18 at 8:48 am to
Made a trip second year in a row on the Backdraft last week. Spent Weds to Saturday at noon. Trout were in the surf only problem was the wind for the first two days. Sat am made up for it as BIG arse trout were there. Dead bait might be an issue as drifting many areas in skiffs never have I caught so many hardheads on live bait it was crazy. At night under the lights of the motorboat the rafts of hardheads were in the thousands..Crazy.

Baits were topwater I liked the Badondadonk pink and chartreuse, Matrix Creole and lemon head, and really anything with pearl and chartreuse. Voo Doo shrimp are awesome but be prepared to lose a lot...

Its a great trip well worth what it takes to get there. But its also physically hard.
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